November 2024 Ouray Plaindealer Features ZGEO Energy’s Good Shepherd Ranch Geothermal Energy Project
By Erin McIntyre, erin@ouraynews.com
A family ranch located near the intersection of Ouray, San Miguel and Montrose counties is ground zero for a hopeful geothermal energy project. The 960-acre Good Shepherd Ranch, owned by the Zahniser family since 1950, recently received permission from the state to drill two exploratory wells to test for geothermal potential. The ranch, located at about 9,000 feet in elevation, is currently used for grazing sheep in the summertime.
The plans include developing a 20-to 80-megawatt geothermal power plant, with a goal of contributing clean energy to the grid in the region by 2029.
Wendy Zahniser Fenner, who lives on Log Hill Mesa, presented those draft plans to the San Miguel Power Association's board of directors at their meeting last week and received positive feedback on the project. In that presentation to SMPA, Fenner called the project "shovel-ready," noting the permit for test well drilling was approved Nov. 1. That exploration drilling and data collection is expected to happen from February to March 2025.
Though the majority of the ranch is located in Montrose County, and the development of the wells would be located within that jurisdiction, such a project could benefit San Miguel and Ouray counties, too.
The location is key for the project, Fenner explained. A 230 kilovolt power transmission line, owned by the Western Area Power Administration, is located close to the northwest side of the property. Another possible access to the grid and contributing power is a San Miguel Power Authority three-phase transformer located close to the property.
"There is potential to provide enough energy for both," she said.
Read the full article: https://www.ouraynews.com/2024/11/27/hopes-geothermal-project-heating/
